Play Me (Take a Chance #3)(29)
Author: Diane Alberts

She took a step closer, her heart quickening. “Do you miss me like I miss you?”

He grabbed his keys off of the island. “Of course I miss you. That’s part of the problem. It’s also why I need to go. We’ll be fine once the baby comes. But for us to get there? I need to get over you.”

Did that mean he wasn’t over her yet? That she stood a chance at making this right? She followed him without even realizing she was doing so. “I want you to stay with me. Be with me.”

He stopped walking, but didn’t turn around. His whole body hummed with impatience. He couldn’t wait to get away from her. Couldn’t wait to escape her. “I can’t. I have a game.”

She’d really, truly lost him.

He crossed the living room, but stopped with his hand on the knob. “Take it easy tonight. You look tired.”

She was tired because she couldn’t sleep anymore. Couldn’t stop missing him. Wanting him in her bed, holding her close.

Couldn’t stop thinking about him…and all that she’d lost.

She swallowed the aching lump in her throat. The door shut behind him before she could do more than open her mouth to reply.

…

A few hours later, Garrett downed his beer and slammed the empty mug down on the bar. “Another, please?”

Mike shot him a look out of the corner of his eye and shook his head. “We’ve been here every night. I thought you were staying in tonight?”

“I was.” Garrett shrugged. “Now I’m not.”

He couldn’t keep sitting there, watching her move through her life without him. After their last session of “meaningless” sex, he’d realized that he didn’t just care about her. He loved her. Loved her more than he would have ever thought possible. But she didn’t want him and he couldn’t be okay with that.

He wouldn’t ever abandon their child, but he had to be done. Had to give up on any illusions he’d had about them becoming a real family.

Mike nudged him with his elbow. “What did she do to you now?”

Garrett closed his eyes. “She didn’t do anything at all.”

“Yeah, okay. And I’m Mother Teresa.”

“Hey, nice to meet you,” Garrett said, holding out his hand. “I admire your work.”

Mike slapped his hand away. “Fuck off. I’m not holding your hand. People will think we’re here together.”

“Please. You’d be lucky to be here with me.”

“Your modesty astounds me.” Mike rubbed his forehead and leaned against the bar. “How’s the roommate situation been going?”

And just like that, Mike was back on track. Talking about Kiersten again. Damn it. “We get along fine. Stop worrying so much.”

Mike eyed him. “And you’re still friends?”

Garrett clutched his beer tight. If he ever heard those words together again, he might punch the speaker. In fact, that sounded like an excellent idea right now, and Mike’s nose would be a great target. “Yeah. I’m done. Kick my ass if you want, but I’m just the roommate and the father of her child. And Chris, of course.”

Mike leaned back on the bar, looking nothing like he was going to kick anyone’s ass. “So you’re done trying to convince her you two would make sense?”

“Yes,” Garrett snapped. “I already said it like twenty times, man. How many more times you need?”

Mike’s jaw ticked. “And the baby?”

“I’m not leaving her or the baby. I’m still living with her.” He rubbed his temples. His head was pounding something fierce. “But I’m moving on. It’s that simple.”

Mike chugged his beer. “I see. Ready to storm the dating world again? Pick up a few chicks while my pregnant sister waits at home for you?”

Garrett groaned. “Can you shut up for once in your life? I’m not in the mood to talk about my feelings, for f**k’s sake. That’s not why I’m here.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Mike chuckled and took a swig of his beer. He remained quiet for all of two seconds. “You want to know what I think your problem is? No? Oh well. I’ll tell you anyway, free of charge. Sounds to me like you need to get laid.”

“Are you volunteering?” Garrett quipped.

Mike raised a brow. “If I am?”

“Thanks, but you’re not really my type.”

“No, but she is,” Mike said. He motioned to the woman approaching them, practically stripping Garrett naked with her eyes. She had dirty sex written all over her but all Garrett could do was watch in disinterest. She wasn’t short enough, had the wrong hair color, and wasn’t…Kiersten.

“You can’t possibly be serious right now,” Garrett said.

Mike looked at him and Garrett shifted uncomfortably on his stool. “Dead serious. You could go home with her if you wanted. You’re a free man, right? Ready to move on?”

This was a test. Clear and simple. And no matter what he did, he would fail. If he didn’t flirt with her, Mike would know Garrett hadn’t moved on and was deluding himself into thinking he had. And if he did pretend to be interested in the woman, Mike would kill him.

Damned if he did, damned if he didn’t.

“Not interested,” Garrett said.

Mike relaxed against the bar and took a swig of his beer. “Good. Then I won’t have to kill you tonight.”

He almost wished he would. It might be preferable to the aching hollowness inside of him right now. It would stop him from wondering if he should believe Kiersten when she said she wanted to try, instead of running from her. Because she had said it again today. That made twice, now.

But he couldn’t bring himself to hope she might be telling the truth this time. The letdown was too damn hard if she wasn’t.

The woman sat down and batted her eyelashes at him. “Hi, whatcha drinking?”

“Lager,” Garrett replied politely, turning back to Mike. “Have you talked to your sister lately?”

“Hello.” Mike smiled at the woman sitting next to Garrett. “Yeah, she’s coming to join us tonight. Chris is at a friend’s house. I think he’s avoiding you.”

“Probably. I’m not exactly his favorite person right now, but we’re getting closer.” Shit. He couldn’t get away from her no matter where he went, could he? “Why the f**k didn’t I know that she was coming?”

“It was a last minute decision. She called me a few minutes ago, looking to meet up, and I told her where I was,” Mike said, shrugging. “What’s the big deal?”